Jesse Draper

Undercapitalization: Closing the Gender Growth Gap Across Industries

Katie O'Reilly, Jesse Draper, David Jeffrey, Megan McDonald, Mina Pacheco Nazemi, David Warren, Mindy Silverstein, Tracy Briscoe Monroe

Executives from Standard Bank Group, Halogen Ventures, and DW Partners discussed the critical need to accelerate gender diversity in finance, citing a persistent global pay gap and a projected 30–50 year timeline to parity without intervention. Panelists highlighted that diverse, female-led funds generate significant alpha while noting that retention challenges, particularly for women in their 30s, require shifting from mentorship to active sponsorship by male leaders. The dialogue concluded with a consensus that Limited Partners and institutional investors must mandate accountability through data-driven policies rather than relying on marketing claims to drive systemic change.